The Moses Riddle (Thomas McAllister 'Treasure Hunter' Adventure Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

been impossible to see. Have someone look around the yard, we should be able to find out which direction he went.”
Scott yelled to one of his team to begin looking for clues starting outside the basement window and working out towards the perimeter.
“The motion detectors didn’t work, because he was moving so slowly. I should’ve put in perimeter weight sensors, Scott,” DJ said. “I won’t make that mistake again, and neither will you.”
He walked over to the aquarium. Scott followed him. It was empty. DJ wanted to lift it up and slam it down onto the floor, but instead he took a deep breath. White anger rose within him, but he pushed it back down. He’d give Scott one more chance.
He lowered his voice and whispered tersely, “Scott, I couldn’t be more displeased about the sloppiness of your operation. Your team let McAlister slip away. This will go into your file. Now listen to me, and listen good. McAlister is over at the Camelback, in Cabana Nine, registered under the name of Havenport. Get a full surveillance team over there by five o’clock. He’s checking out tomorrow. This is your last chance.”
Scott was dumfounded. He had heard DJ was good, but this was beyond good. The information DJ had was eerie, almost as if the man were some kind of seer. His crack team of experts had had the McAlister house under full surveillance, video and sound and motion, using the most modern equipment, for an entire week, and by all accounts, Thomas McAlister had not left this house today.
“You sure, Chief? I mean, how could you know that? You weren’t even here with us last night.”
“Scott, I don’t think you’re in a position to question me. Be goddamn careful with McAlister. He’s slipped by us once. We cannot afford to let it happen again.”
“Yes, sir.”
DJ started to walk out of the room. He wanted to check McAlister’s closet to see what kind of clothes he’d left behind. Before he left the room he turned and said, “Oh, and by the way, that man you have checking outside.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Have him check the sewer cover in the corner of the back yard. All the houses around here have them. I’ll bet you a six-pack McAlister pried it off and crawled away through the sewer.” DJ turned and walked out. Scott would later find that DJ was right about that too.
CHAPTER 5
    Thomas McAlister drove by his house, saw the smashed front door, and knew that the people watching him, the ones in the white van, had broken in. He was taking the chance of driving by in broad daylight because it was important for him to know who was watching him. He’d hoped to see men in blue jackets with oversized yellow letters on the back that said FBI, forensic workers in orange suits, or possibly even a competing archeologist. Instead he only saw one man in plain clothes, on the side of the house, bent over examining something on the ground.
    Somehow, someone had learned he was close to discovering an archeological treasure of monumental importance. He hoped they didn’t know what it was. They must have some idea of its value, though, or they wouldn’t have set up such an elaborate and costly surveillance effort. It hadn’t taken long for him to realize someone was following him, bugging his home and office, and monitoring his mail and e-mail. All this effort, and he didn’t even have the treasure in his possession yet. But he would . . . soon.
    Regardless of who was doing the spying, the most important thing was that he’d finally gotten out from under the surveillance. He never would have driven down Nightingale in the middle of the day, but the Discovery he was driving wasn’t his, and it had tinted windows. That’s how suspicious and nervous he’d become over the past few weeks. But now, after successfully escaping, he was free to go after the treasure without being followed.
    His discovery would send a disabling shock through both the religious and economic worlds. He had tried his best to keep it totally secret